1861. 



THE ILLmOIS FAEMER. 



If 8 



and with firm faith and hope that the agricultu- 

 ral promise oJ the Northwest will be fully real- 

 ized, I have only to write — farewell. 



Chas. D. Beaqdon. 



In partirg with Mr. Bragdon, it sunders rela- 

 tions which have existed for over three years 

 with uninterrupted harmony, and leaving, he 

 carries with him the best wishes of his former 

 associate. Mr. Bragdon will ever be found at 

 his post, and true to any trust reposed on him — 

 a man of unswerving rectitude in principle and 

 practice. Emery & Co. 



— We have for the past year had premonitions 

 that the West would lose the vigorous pen and in- 

 domitable industry of our cotemporary, but we 

 had hopes that it might not prove true. The 

 field that Mr. B. will occupy, though less useful 

 to the public, yet we trust will be more satisfac- 

 tory to himself. His bodily strength could not 

 long bear up against such draughts as he has 

 been making upon it, without more out-door ex- 

 ercise. He leaves the editorial chair with the re- 

 gret of his readers, who have been largely bene- 

 fitted by his efforts. Wherever his lot may 

 hereafter be cast he will have the good wishes 

 and sympathies of a large circle of friends, and 

 in leaving the West he may be assured that thou- 

 sands of homes where he has held his weekly so- 

 ciables through the Farmer will feel his absence. 



The Horticulturist for Mat, is on our table, 

 in which we have a picture of the Union Village 

 grape. The curculio is occupying no small space 

 in the present and back numbers of this work. 

 These articles alone are worth to fruit growers 

 more than the subscription price, $2, to which 

 add a half dollar and we will send you that and 

 the Farmer a year. The colored edition is sent 

 for $5, or forty- two cents a number. 



-<•»- 



Corn Culture. — We are now in the midst of 

 corn culture. Corn should be worked to keep down 

 the weeds while small. Some ridge up their corn 

 by throwing a furrow on the hills, but we think 

 this all wrong ; level culture, with cultivator or 

 double shovel plow is the best, to our notion. — 

 After the large bracing roots come out it is time 

 to lay it by. 



The Gardbnee's Monthly continues as valua- 

 ble as ever, it is full of good things, and only 

 costs a dollar. Send to publishers of the Gar- 

 dener^ s Monthly, box 406, Philadelphia, or you can 

 club it with the Fabmeb at $1 75. 



W. W. CoEBETT. — This gentleman, for several 

 years connected with the Prairie Farmer, is to 

 take the place of C. D. Bragdon, the former edi- 

 tor. We have been personally acquaint sd with 

 C for several years, and know him to be a gen- 

 tleman in every sense of the word ; he is a ready 

 writer, energetic and cautious. We welcome him 

 to the tripod, and have no fears that he wiJl fal- 

 ter at his post. 



Reapers vs. Headers. — The Messrs. A. & J. 

 Haines have personally laid upon our table their 

 pamphlet for the current harvest. They claim 

 large advantages in heading over reaping. They 

 now recommend the cutting of the straw some 

 two feet long, to enable it to cure, as it has been 

 found that the heads do not cure well and have a 

 strong tendency to mold. 



** It is acknowled that wheat -cut and put up in 

 this way has spoiled ; but in e^ery case the stacks 

 were badly put up and not secured, or the straw 

 was cut entirely too short ; yet in every case or 

 nearly so, the parties thus violating orders and 

 instructions as given in our bills, claimed that 

 they had strictly obeyed instructions, until cross- 

 examined on the subject. We suppose that one 

 main cause of so much carelessness on the part 

 of a few that use our machine, arises from the 

 fact that many who use it successfully, express 

 full confidence in saving grain under any circum- 

 stances, without fully or particularly stating the 

 necessity of cutting tlie straw a-proper length. 



When straw is cut too short, it will pack much 

 closer than if cut longer, because the weight of 

 wheat is too great for the small amount of straw 

 to resist, and consequently excluding the neces- 

 sary amount of circulating air, causing must and 

 injury, also abusing the users, manufacturers and 

 the reputation of this mode of harvesting gen- 

 erally. Also such neglect on the part of the 

 users give the myriads of reaper agents an op- 

 portunity of speaking evil of this mode of har- 

 vesting." 



As many of our readers use the headers we 

 would impress this point on them, to cut the 

 straw long and see that the vicks are well aired 

 by poles through the centre. This mode of har- 

 vesting requires no small amount of care, as well 

 as tvhen cut by the common reaper. 



Premium List of tbe State Agricultueal 

 Society. — This list came too late for a notice in 

 our May issue. It is out in good season, much 

 in advance of any of its predecessors. The so- 

 ciety offer $20,000 in cash premiums, and citi- 

 zens of Chicago $20,000, special premiums. The 

 list can be had of the Corresponding Secretary, 

 J. P. Reynolds, Springfields, His. Every farmer 

 and mechanic should have a copy, and carefolly 



